hawaii targeting the u.s. pacific fleet at pearl harbor. almost 2400 americans were killed and 1200 wounded. he surprise attack led to the u.s. entry into world war ii. next comes the u.s. navy and national park service mark the 75th anniversary of the attack with a ceremony at pearl harbor. admiral harry harris head of the u.s. pacific command delivers the keynote address. this is just under 90 minutes. >> our national anthem. ♪ [star spangled banner playing ♪ ]

♪ [applause]

>> please remain standing for the singing of hawaii's state song. ♪

>> please be seated. [applause] >> approaching use it the uss halsey. earlier this morning uss halsey rendered honors to the uss utah memorial. since december 7th, 1941, uss utah and "uss arizona" are the only two ships that remain in the harbor with service members still. returning honors was pearl harbor survivor gil meyer

represented fellow u.s.s. utah survivors who are here with us today, bill hughes and louis underwood as well as all utah service members. it is customary for ships passing "uss arizona" memorial to pay their respects by rendering honors. today, in addition to rendering honors to "uss arizona" memorial, "uss halsey" will also render honor to the pearl harbor survivors who have gathered with us today. mr. donald stratton, escorted by petty officer first class juan rodriguez and national park chief historian mr. daniel martinez is ready to return honors as a representative for all pearl harbor survivors. mr. stratton is a former crew member of uss arizona. when the attacks started, then 19-year-old first class seaman stratton had just finished breakfast. when he saw the japanese planes topside he ran to his battle station even before the general's quarter alarm sounded. during the attack, don stratton suffered severe burns on over 60% of his body.

following the attack mr. stratton spent nearly a year recovering from his injuries yet chose to return to sea as soon as he was able. mr. stratton reported to uss stack as gunner's mate and continued his service through the end of the war. mr. stratton made the journey back to pearl harbor with his family to honor fallen crew members and reconnect with old friends. he's one of five known remaining pearl harbor survivors of uss arizona, and he stands on stage today for all pearl harbor survivors. all pearl harbor survivors and world ii veterans invited to stand as able. mr. stratton will now return the salute to uss halsey. [applause]

>> carry on. pearl harbor survivors and world war ii veterans, please be seated. we thank the uss halsey and 199th and 19th squadrons for participating in today's ceremony. in the hawaiian culture, the religious leader or spiritual adviser, today we're pleased to have for our invocation a hawaiin blessing offered.

♪ ♪ ♪

[speaking foreign language] >> our eternal father in heaven -- [speaking foreign language] -- good morning, heavenly father. our dear creator, my blessing this day is for the sacred presence of our pearl harbor survivors who are physically here. my prayer also is dedicated to the great heroes who lost their lives that day. we're also spiritually here sitting and walking among us.

heavenly father, i come before you humbly and ask for this, to make things right finally and righteous and to ask for a forgiveness. for the pain and suffering has been so long. and in doing so -- [speaking foreign language] -- there shall be a commitment beginning from this day for peace. and in this peace, it shall translate to world peace. gracious and heavenly father, enough of wars. for here on this sacred day before you, we all come humbly and ask for -- [ speaking foreign language ] -- to love one another.

until we are received into your fold, allow us to be at peace. humbly i ask and say these things in thy sacred name. amen and amen. >> for the past 35 years, japan religious committee for world federation has offered a prayer for peace on this occasion. we are honored to once again have them here as part of the ceremony. reverend tanaka will offer the prayer followed by the english translation by miss maya perry. japanese] >>

in 1982, our organization, the japan religious committee for world federation participated in a religion conference in new york city, and we also visited pearl harbor at that time. this is our 35th year to offer prayers for peace and consolation to the arizona memorial. this year commemorates the 75th anniversary of pearl harbor attacks and the 71st anniversary of the end of world war ii. it is the most appropriate time to reflect on our shared past, so that the great wisdom and lessons learned from history may be passed on to future generations. we are gathered here today in the name of peace. given how our countries were

sworn enemies at one point in time, this is a most remarkable thing. we are living proof that time heals, that it is possible to become the best of friends and allies and to have the deepest consideration and trust for one another. after the g7 summit in japan this may, president obama took the time to visit hiroshima. in his speech for peace, he said there is a future we can choose in which hiroshima and nagasaki are known not as the dawn of atomic warfare but as the start of our own moral awakening. working together to share the wisdom of our forebears is paramount. we must do all we can so world peace can be achieved for the sake of humanity. let us pray. may lasting peace prevail in the

world and may all of mankind know true happiness. may we all live together peacefully in this home that we share and may our planet become a shining beacon of love, compassion, joy, and sincerity for all. thank you very much. [applause] >> today's national pearl harbor remembrance day is co-hosted as it has been since 2005, by the national parks service and united states navy. here to share in official welcome on behalf of the national park service is jacqueline ashwell, superintendent of the world war ii valor in the pacific national monument, who will introduce guest speaker miss laura joss,

director for the pacific west region. then our navy co-host rear admiral john fuller, commander navy region hawaii and naval surface group middle pacific will offer a navy welcome and introduce our keynote speaker admiral harold b. harris jr., commander united states pacific command. ladies and gentlemen, miss jacqueline ashwell. [applause] ms. ashwell: aloha. it is my great pleasure to serve as a co-host and welcome you to the national pearl harbor remembrance day commemoration marking the 75th anniversary of the attack on oahu. among the dignitaries we welcome today, and ladies and gentlemen, if you could, please hold your applause until the end, the

honorable david egay, governor of hawaii, governor of the state of arizona. the honorable ralph torres, governor, commonwealth of the marianas islands. former secretary of veterans affairs. admiral john richardson, chief of naval operations. admiral harry harris, commander, u.s. pacific command. admiral william fallon, former commander, u.s. pacific command. admiral thomas fargo, former commander, u.s. pacific command. admiral richard mackey, former commander, u.s. pacific command. the honorable spencer cox, lieutenant governor, state of utah.

the honorable lieutenant governor of hawaii. chief justice, hawaii state supreme court. the honorable janine davidson, under-secretary of the navy. the honorable franklin parker, assistant secretary of the navy for manpower and reserve affairs. admiral scott swift, commander, u.s. pacific fleet. general robert brown, commanding general, u.s. army pacific. general terrence o'shaughnessy, commander, u.s. pacific air forces. lieutenant general david berger, commander, marine forces pacific. general david brenlan, former commander, u.s. army forces command.

former commander, u.s. pacific fleet. general gary north, former commander, u.s. pacific air forces. the honorable kirk caldwell, mayor of the city and county of honolulu. the honorable bernard carbajo, mayor of the county of hawaii. the honorable mayor of japan. the honorable hirohisa ishibashi, mayor of japan. members of the consulate corps, senior executive service and all other flag and general officers, elected and appointed officials, business and community leaders, welcome. [applause]

nestled along the waters of the halal the stream is the -- lava stream is the pearl harbor visitors center where more than a million and a half guests come each year to learn the history of the pacific war. the national park service is proud stewards of three memorials dedicated to uss arizona, uss oklahoma and uss utah. collectively, these and other memorials represent those who were lost on december 7, 1941. over the years we have collected oral history interviews of hundreds of pearl harbor survivors, both military and civilian, other world war ii,

as well as japanese americans with ancestry incarcerated during the war. that library of recollections gives us the opportunity to share the stories of those who witnessed, fought, and died during the attack on oahu, or who were otherwise affected by the war. this morning, on this 75th anniversary, i will share the accounts of a few of those who experienced the attack. their stories honor our past and inspire our future. on the uss arizona, james forres ess had a working party on the fan tail rigging the ship for church services that morning. the white canvas awning flapped

and snapped in the breeze. the sun was warm. the clouds were high. and all things considered, the day was perfect. in the distance, unidentified planes started coming in low from the southeast lock. heavy, muscled explosions began booming down the line atford island. officer of the deck pulled the alarm bell. he shouted over the p.a. system again and again, all hands, general quarters, air raid. this is no drill. on the west side of ford island, a young african-american massive attendant from the uss utah attendant from the uss utah named clark simmons, a friend of uss's dory miller

, heard about and witnessed the attack. sim obstacles recall there were several of us in the compartment. i looked out on the port side toward pearl city. as i looked out the port, i saw a plane making a run for the utah. and as she dropped the torpedo, the wing dipped and then straightened up and the torpedo headed for the utah. another one right behind it did the same thing. as it hit the ship, we felt the jar. at that time the bugler sounded, man your battle stations. well, our battle stations were below deck. when i first went down to what they called battle stations, we were frightened. there was water coming to the ship. it was knee-deep. it is just as vivid in my mind today as it was on that day. a few miles from pearl her -- pearl harbor, a young woman,

a young nurse, anna busby, found herself in a unique position. she was in the army nurse corps, but on this particular day she was a patient receiving care at tripler hospital. she recalled in her oral history, "i was a patient that day and i had just placed my breakfast tray on the floor when we heard all these sounds. they sounded horrible. when the head nurse ran down the hall, i ran after her. when we got to the back porch, you could see all this smoky in pearl harbor. i heard her say, my god, the japanese are bombing pearl harbor. i said, we will all need to be on duty. " the days after the attack, the nurses of tripler treated a great number of the wounded and

dying. in honolulu, caught in the crossfire of battle, a terrified community began to pull its self together and respond. among the first stick action, the honolulu fire department. -- first to take action, the honolulu fire department. that day they responded to 39 callouts. three companies of firefighters raced to hickam at 8:05 to assist military crews battling multiple fires involving military aircraft, barracks and hangars. the department lost three firefighters that day. captain thomas macy of engine 4. era of engineherre one, and one from engine six. in time they awarded purple heart to those civilian firefighters injured and killed on december 7. the only u.s. civilian firefighters in history so honored.

here in pearl harbor, we watch over the memorials. we also preserve the memories of those who experience the attack so that their words will live forever. the national park service keeps america's memory of the war alive for future generations. we do so to honor the past and inspire the future and to help the world learn the lessons of history. today, our uss arizona memorial stands for everyone who served in uniform during world war ii. the memorial you see across the harbor is a symbol of hope. it is a symbol of respect and resilience.

it touches the best and greatest ideals in all of our hearts. in the words of the late historian michael slackman, "today, the uss arizona stands as a reminder of the event of that sunday morning. it has different meanings to those who visit there. but to all of them, it speaks silently and eloquently of the distance yet to be traveled before the world lives in peace." thank you and aloha to all. [applause] now it is my pleasure to introduce our national park service regional director for the pacific west region, miss laura joss. miss joss oversees operations

for 61 units, trails and areas of our national parks system and six western states and in three territories of the pacific. we are able to do our jobs here in pearl harbor preserving the memorials and the memories thanks to her leadership and support. ladies and gentlemen, miss laura joss. [applause] miss joss: thank you, superintendent ashwell. aloha. a bridge at concord, the golden fields of gettysburg, the waters of pearl harbor. these battle fields all share a common bond. they are sacred ground to the people of the united states. they are historic sites that are

part of the national park service, who preserves their memory and shares it with the world. we gather at these places to remember, to understand, and to honor. as we commemorate the 75th anniversary of pearl harbor, we recall the distant memories of war and peace. this year also marks the 100th anniversary of america's best idea, the national parks. from acadia national park in maine to war in the pacific national historical park in guam, parks serve the nation as places of retreat, wonder, discovery, and reflection. the history of the national parks service began with the country's desire to conserve lands that were being threatened.

the idea to preserve unique landscapes originated with places like yellowstone and yosemite and soon grew to include not just landscapes but historic landmarks and treasures as well. becoming gateways to telling america's many stories. as the number of parks increased, it became clear that a dedicated agency for their management would be needed. president woodrow wilson, working with the congress, created legislation to establish the national parks service as an agency of the department of the interior on august 25, 1916. twenty years later, another president, franklin d. roosevelt, would comment on this new and unique adventure with preservation management with these words -- "there is nothing so american as our national parks. the fundamental idea behind the parks is that the country belongs to the people.

it is for the enrichment of the lives of all of us." over the past 10 decades, we have, as a country, set aside the best of what america has to offer. we have set aside treasured landscapes. we have also set aside places that tell the stories of our past, both the history we celebrate, as well as the monuments we should never forget. there are now over 400 such places of reflection that the national parks service shares with the people of the united states and the world. today's ceremony is taking place at the close of the national park services centennial year. a theme of our centennial asked, white is a park to you? as i conclude my remarks, i ask that you look out over the waters of pearl harbor, gaze

upon the memorial that rests above the uss arizona, and ask yourself what that memorial means to you. for myself, i believe it is not merely a fitting tribute to the men who lost their lives aboard the arizona. the memorial and this commemoration on in the past, past but-- honor the also inspire the future to strive toward a world of peace where reconciliation is achievable. how honored we are as employees in the national parks service, your national park service, to be the stewards of this hallowed memorial and the internationally historic landscape that surrounds it. thank you and aloha. [applause]

>> thank you, miss joss. ladies and gentlemen, it is now my pleasure to introduce our navy co-host rear admiral john fuller. he oversees two installations, the joint base pearl harbor hickam and pacific missile range facility, as well as all home ported surface ships here in pearl harbor, hawaii. please welcome commander navy region hawaii and naval surface group pacific rear admiral john fuller. [applause] admiral fuller: on behalf of united states navy i join our national park service partners and welcome everyone to this historic commemoration. to our most honored guests, pearl harbor survivors and other world war ii veterans, thank you for honoring us with your participation in today's ceremony.

we are holding the day's events for you. our objective and theme is honoring the past and inspiring the future. we remember your lost ship mates. we salute your service and your sacrifice and that of your family's. we offer you our most heartfelt thanks for all you sacrificed and all you suffered. on december 7, 1941, most of you veterans were teenagers or in your early 20's, and you were away from home for the first time. back home, your families long to hear any news about the attack. mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, grandparents, all loved ones were desperately looking to hear news about the fate of their boys. meanwhile, you pearl harbor survivors faced the grueling recovery and restoration.

joined by navy divers, shipyard civilians, citizens from hawaii, you responded. you rebuilt and you resurrected pearl harbor and the pacific fleet. you felt the shock, endured the grief, and then you shouldered the burden of bringing the world back into balance. in the days after the attack, facts and information crawled along but rumors raced along at light speed. it would take weeks to get detailed news to your families. in some cases it took months. people stood in endless lines at the western union in honolulu. on the mainland, families waited at home and wondered. some mothers and fathers received the worst possible news, the news they dreaded. , family is our

most precious institution. family is our most precious possession. yet in war, innocent families are always victims. historian ken burns chronicled the second world war both in europe and the pacific and he called that war the greatest cataclysm in history. he went on to say -- "it grew out of human emotions, anger, arrogance, bigotry, victimhood and lust for power. and it ended because of other human qualities, courage, perseverance, selflessness, faith, leadership, and the hunger for freedom combined to change the course of human events." those of you who served in world war ii, you earned the freedom and the prosperity we enjoy today. you forged and bestowed upon us a lasting legacy of freedom, with your resolve, toughness and grit. you polished that through your honor, courage and commitment. those of you who served in world

war ii ushered in the current era of peace and prosperity we've enjoyed for decades, and you did that with your blood, your sweat, and your tears. you recreated a world dedicated to order and instability. -- order, justice and stability. you deserve freedom, you inspired great equality and civil rights. you earn our commitment to always remember pearl harbor. your life changed on the morning of december 7, 1941. after that day, you would change the world forever. as a humble beneficiary, i simply want to offer my sincere and heartfelt thanks. today, we are very fortunate to hear from the pacific commanders perspective. admiral harris is the son of navy chief and japanese mother who met in post-war japan. he exemplifies, poetically, how

far we've come in seven decades. he's a tough and courageous leader, a diplomat and fighter. he leads our military to the pacific. when you talk about the area he lead the pacific, he leads army, air force, navy, and marines. and his area of responsibility spans the width, the breadth, the area over, on, and under the sea for the pacific ocean. an area of responsibility encompassing half the world's surface. i'd like to say from the arctic to the antarctic, from california to india, it's a lot of responsibility, a lot of real estate, it's a lot of good leadership. ladies and gentlemen, it's my honor to introduce the commander of u.s. pacific command admiral harold b. harris, junior. [applause]

admiral harris, jr.: note to self, never follow a tall man or a small child to the podium. [laughter] ladies and gentlemen, let's give it up one more time for the band for the inspirational rendition of the national anthem. [applause] admiral harris jr.: you can bet that the men and women we honor today and those who died that fateful morning 75 years ago never took a knee and never failed to stand whenever they heard our national anthem being played. [applause]

admiral harris, jr.: thanks, john, for that introduction and for your terrific stewardship of this historic region. ladies and gentlemen, good morning. hearing the words, the land of the free and the home of the brave, means something special for every american every day. but today on december 7, it takes on extraordinary significance as we're joined here in this hallowed place by world war ii veterans and survivors of attacks on military bases all across oahu including

right here on pearl harbor. that fateful morning 75 years ago, they were about to conduct morning colors when they were surprised to hear the sounds of real bombs bursting in air instead of the reassuring melody of our nation's anthem. at that early light, they ran to battle stations and guns as they began to boldly to the defense of our country. please help me welcome them again, these veterans with a grateful round of applause. [applause]

admiral harris, jr.: folks, lieutenant ashwell mentioned our many distinguished guests but i would like to recognize a few of our honored attendees. governors, mayors, state and city leaders, under-secretary davidson, esteemed member of consular corps, chief of naval, admiral richardson, admiral fargo, serving and retired officers, larry jones, thanks for highlighting our veterans past and present for the second year in a row. gary sinise, garth brooks and trisha yearwood, thanks for entertaining our troops.

leaders of the national park service, thank you for what you do every day to remember these hallowed places and congratulations on your centennial year. distinguished guests and ladies and gentlemen, just prior to the attack 75 years ago on a morning not unlike this one, people not unlike us were waking up to enjoy another day in paradise. indeed some of the veterans were probably thinking about spending the day on the beach, playing baseball, hanging out with friends or listening to the battle of the bands at block arena right here on this base. no one knew it would be the last moment of peace for almost four years. the horrific events that took place here caught america, her navy, army, army air corps, marine corps and territory of hawaii by surprise.

we were attacked all across oahu, at scofield barracks, ,he lows, hickam -- bellows hickam and of course right here at pearl harbor. it fell upon the shoulders of brave americans like these here in the front rows to respond to crisis that fateful day. the surprise sought by the imperial japanese navy lasted 110 chaotic minutes. almost as long as this speech is going to be. [laughter] harris, jr.: a day of gallantry and unquestionable heroism, a day of sacrifice and immeasurable loss. less than 24 hours, the majority of the pacific fleet taken out of action, catastrophic by any standard. the scars remain and we see them all around us. the battleships, uss arizona and uss utah, still entombed in these waters behind me.

the uss oklahoma memorial, bullet holes at ford island and hickam field, bodies and minds of the veterans here with us today. these scars remind us of our history and how america responded with conspicuous valor. today, we have a precious opportunity to reflect, to reflect what it means to be a patriot, to reflect on what it means to be a nation tested by war and to reflect on both the costs and the blessings of liberty. they say hindsight is 2020. history has shown us the alarm bells had been sounding throughout the 1930's. as america licked a sword -- as america looked eastward toward europe we watched as a military leadership in germany began to grow in power. in fascist italy allied itself to nazi germany. we looked westward as well, where we saw militaristic rise of japan. the fleet from california to

hawaii in 1940, a move designed to give pause to a potential adversary, the original rebalance of the indoasia-pacific if you will. even so, 75 years ago the the united states was strategically surprised, caught flat footed by imperial japan. military and first responders here on the islands, incredibly mustered brave defense against staggering odds. they engaged the enemy as best they could with what they had. propose who gave their last full measure of devotion for their nation, that day, we feel a deep sense of sorrow, yet we're also inspired by their great gift to the world, the gift of freedom itself. they did not go quietly into that night. along with those who survived, a reluctant nation emerged to fight and ultimately win world war ii. those who survived pearl harbor also left us a warning.

remember pearl harbor. keep america alert. eternal vigilence is the price of liberty and imperative never to be caught by strategic surprise again. but 15 years ago we were again surprised by a major attack on our soil. not by a nation state this time but by terrorists. as before in the preceding decade, alarm bells had been ringing. even as we worked hard to understand those alarms, few, if any, could have anticipated the methodology behind those events in new york, shanksville, the pentagon on that fitful autumn -- fateful autumn day. i'm not a preacher man, in fact chief of chaplains is in the audience here but there's a passage in the good book which define for me, those who responded in 1941 and 2001 are. in isaiah, god was searching for the right man, a man with the

right staff, a man embark on a dangerous mission and go into a dangerous land. whom shall i send? whom shall go for us? it was isiah who respond, here am i, lord, send me. here am i, send me. powerful words. when our nation was attacked 75 years ago today, and again 60 years later on another sunny day, this time in new york, lady liberty called out in her pain and anguish, whom shall i send? who shall go for me? and everywhere soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, coast guardsmen and civilians called out, here am i, america, send me. here am i, america, send me. [applause]

admiral harris, jr.: america is the country she is because of young men and women who are willing to forego wearing a business suit, forego strolling down easy street and forego living the good life to wear instead the cloth of the nation. to travel instead along an uncertain road fraught with peril. to live, instead, a life on the ragged edge of danger. to live lives that matter. america is blessed beyond riches. our nation is blessed to have strong men and women with exceptional courage who are willing and able to step forward to do whatever it takes to defend america whenever lady liberty is in jeopardy. just like the greatest generation who answered the clarion call of duty after pearl harbor and korea and vietnam and the cold war and the gulf war, a new generation of men and women volunteered to stand in the gap for us following 9/11. since then, we have pursued and engaged our enemies even to the ends of the earth, and we're

still at it today. a free nation cannot survive without those who are willing to place service to country ahead of service to self. so ladies and gentlemen, every december 7 -- [applause] jr.: so ladies and gentlemen, every december 7 , we have remembered the past actions of our veterans on oahu because they inspire us today and because they shape our future. a tour across present day hawaii reveals the depth of america's tenacity to protect our enduring national interests in the pacific. for america is a pacific nation, a pacific power, and a pacific leader. secretary of defense carter has rightly called the indoasian pacific the most consequentialal -- consequential region for

america's future. this area already drives global economic prosperity and will do so for the next century. ours is a region of rapid growth, not only in population, not only in industry but also in competition for scarce resources and military capability. president reagan once said we can't be innocents abroad in a world that's not innocent. you have just witnessed a demonstration of americans resolved as uss halsey steamed around ford island and f-22 raptors flew overhead. and don appear next to us is the mighty aircraft carrier stennis. the poster ship of america's national will. your military forces based here and throughout the region stand watch to ensure our nation remains vigilant to keep america safe and to defend our very way of life. the best fighting force the world has ever seen exists because of the legacy of the men

and women who did their duty when our nation needed it the years ago today. the selfless service of the greatest generation, both veterans and civilians on the them,ront who supported won the peace by ending a war. they defined our national heritage and today we thank them for their service and their faith in our nation. folks, this week's 75th commemoration events have renewed my confidence in the future our country. from all works of life and across generations, i have heard people telling their stories, i laughter, sorrow and joy. i'm reminded of the stories my father would tell me about his war experiences as an enlisted man aboard the uss lexington, an aircraft carrier that departed pearl harbor a few days before the attack. my dad and so many of the greatest generation are no longer with us. but we can still hear their

stories of duty, of honor and of courage. their ghosts walk amongst us. their spirits speak to us. protect this house, this will defend. and we're fortunate indeed to listen and learn from living world war ii veterans, including president bush, senators dole and governors and tuskegee airmen and so many others who are with us today or watching the broadcast across america. what we hear is that the future belongs to the brave. our country is both defined by her storied past and invigorated by her balanced future. we rise today to author that future, emboldened by the intrepid service of those who came before us and carried on ward by those young men and women who serve today. as america's joint force

commander, i give you my word that the 380,000 civilians and military warriors that comprise the u.s. pacific command are ready to fight tonight and win so that we may be free. we remember pearl harbor. we remember the response by america's sons and daughters who brought the broad stripes and bright stars through many perilous bites. at coral see, at north africa, at midway water canal, at the atntains, at normandie, okinawa, and we honor sacrifices made during world war ii by the many allied nations. so that the world could see freedom renewed. today, we work with allies and partners across the globe to protect those hard won freedoms, including our staunch ally japan. reconciliation turned once bitter enemies into the closest of friends, united by shared

values and shared interests, yet another lasting legacy of that greatest generation. ladies and gentlemen, as we look upon the majestic uss arizona memorial behind me, take comfort in knowing that our departed world war ii veterans continue to stand vigilant watch as guardian angels of our nation. i will conclude by saying the joint forces have assumed liberty's mantle, passed down in an unbroken chain, watch to watch for 75 years. no one and i mean no one should doubt that a strong u.s. military will continue to stand a global watch for generations to come. as the legacy and lessons of pearl harbor are passed to our children and our children's children, who will also stem the watch to continue to fight against injustice, to america's world war ii patriots here and watching at home, we will never

forget your courage under considerable fire and seemingly insurmountable odds. because of you, our future remains bright. we owe you an immeasurable dead. debt, and we can't thank you enough for answering the call when lady liberty need it the most. my god bless you all past and present who stood the watch and answered that call to duty. may god bless this beauty it --dutiful state of co-ie beautiful state of hawaii and may god bless the united states of america which has always been and forever shall be the land of the free and the home of the brave. thank you very much. [applause]

>> thank you, admiral harris. the wreaths you are about to see presented are an expression of our gratitude and a symbol of our unending appreciation of service and sacrifice. today, we honor heros, military and civilians who lost their lives on december 7, 1941. this morning, we will place wreaths to honor the territory of hawaii, army, marine corps, navy, air force and coast guard. the wreaths will be presented by active duty service members and national park service rangers.

this formation represents our past and present. it honors those who fought in the name of freedom 75 years ago and recognizes our veterans and current active duty members who continue to selflessly serve our country. today, these wreaths represent hope that our future generation s may never forget the sacrifices that took place and continue to take place every day. the bell is from the uss bugara, 331, a diesel submarine. it was launched in 1944 and served in the pacific during world war ii. the territory of hawaii. [bell ringing] >> on that fateful morning, 49 civilians lost their lives as a result of the attack. as a base for all of the services, the then territory of

hawaii and its citizens played a major role in one of history's greatest salvage and repair efforts, restoring most of the damaged ships and expediting the return to the fleet. hawaii's citizens opened their homes and businesses to servicemen stationed in the islands and to those returning from war patrols. today, the state of hawaii remains a strategic and welcoming home port for our military, continuing to offer aloha to all. representing the territory of hawaii is staff sergeant matilla of hawaii and park ranger borja of guam. will our civilian survivors and witnesses please stand as able? [applause] ♪

[band playing] ♪ >> civilian survivors and witnesses, please be seated. united states army. [bell ringing] >> while many history books tend to focus on the pearl harbor attack, the brave members of the united states army fought to

defend their posts on december 7, 1941. from schofield barracks to bellows airfield, the u.s. army had and continues to have a large presence on the area of oahu. representing the united states army is captain moore of texas and park ranger barom of hawaii. will all of our army veterans please stand as able? [applause] ♪ playing] ♪

[applause] >> army veterans, please be seated. united states marine corps. [bell ringing] >> many may not realize until visiting the uss arizona memorial that a united states marine detachment made up part of each battleship's company. a total of 109 marines lost their lives that day. 105 perished aboard ships in field. -- 105 perished aboard ships in pearl harbor and four were killed in action at the field. representing the united states marine corps is sergeant camfield of arizona and park

of new mexico. will all of our marine corps veterans please stand as able? [applause] ♪ [band playing] ♪ [applause] >> marine corps veterans, please be seated. united states navy.

[bell ringing] >> 1,999 sailors lost their lives in the december 7 attacks on pearl harbor. many sailors met their final resting place in these waters directly beneath us, while defending their ships and helping their ship mates escape the burning hulls. many more assisted in rescue and recovery efforts in the days and weeks that followed. representing the united states navy is petty officer first class stephen smith of hawaii and park ranger bruce nickel of florida. will all of our navy veterans please stand as able? [applause] ♪ playing]

♪ [applause] >> navy veterans, please be seated. united states air force. [bell ringing] >> though not yet a service in 1941, the united states air force was referred to as our army air corps and here as the hawaiian air force. on december 7, lieutenant ken taylor and george welch

scrambled to their aircraft and took off to brave the skies against incredible odds. representing the united states air force is captain clements of michigan and park ranger camcam of california. will all of our air force veterans please stand as able? [applause] ♪ [band playing] ♪ [applause]

>> air force veterans, please be seated. united states coast guard. [bell ringing] >> at the time of the attack, u.s. coast guard vessels were in honolulu. at 06:45, they intercepted. tiger came under enemy fire but did not suffer any casualties. representing the united states coast guard is donna moriatri and park ranger scott from germany. will all of our coast guard veterans please stand as able? [applause] ♪ [band playing] ♪

[applause] >> coast guard veterans, please be seated. thank you to our wreath presenters. would all pearl harbor survivors and world war ii veterans please remain seated so we can honor you. author craig nelson's from his recent book with a quote from don stratman here at this today -- "i saw everything that went on there and i tell you what,

there was more courage and more heroics and more valor and more sacrifice that day than a human being ought to see in 10 lifetimes. to our survivors and veterans, you once bravely stood fast and tough, responded, recovered and prevailed. on december 7, 1941, and in the years that followed, you executed your duties at your posts and weathered the storm of war. it is because of you and others like you that we enjoy freedom and liberty in this great country. with all pearl harbor survivors and world war ii survivors remaining seated, everyone else stand and join me in expressing our appreciation. a grateful nation applauds you today. [applause]

>> thank you. please be seated. a vintage 1940's aircraft will soon fly overhead. and its sleek lines retractable landing gear, this aircraft was the economical civilian counterpart to the aircraft that flew during world war ii. it was the fighter that many came home to fly. as it shares many common features with the u.s. army air corps p-40 fighter. only 1,521 aircraft were managed with production ceasing in 1951. please rise as able and remain standing for the benediction, marine corps standing salute and the band. the navy chief of chaplains will offer the benediction.

>> sure of god's presence among us this day let us pray for his benediction over our commemoration. if you would, pray with me. all mighty and eternal god, on this day of infamy, we ask that you would bless the memory of the heroes who distinguished themselves that fateful morning and in the days and years that followed. though each passing year attempts to erase the impact of the countless sacrifices, guard us from ever neglecting the cost so many paid to preserve our freedoms and defend our liberty. inspired by the tributes offered to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, awaken in us the same spirit of commitment that defied complacency in the face of evil. never allow us to forget that the ideals which defined our nation then are now the responsibility of every american citizen to uphold.

keep us ever vigilant in the cause for peace and may we exemplify your mercy and remain in your grace. it is in the strength of your name we pray. amen. >> stand by for rifle salute. hand salute. >> ready. air. fire. ready. aim. fire. ready. aim. fire. present. arms. ♪ playing]

♪

>> ready two. please remain standing for the departure of the official party and our honored guests. following the departure of the official party, we invite all our pearl harbor survivors and world war ii veterans to participate in the walk of honor. [bells ringing] >> united states pacific command, departing.

[bells ringing] >> navy region hawaii and naval surface group middle pacific departing. >> on behalf of the national park service and united states navy, thank you for attending today's special observance of the 75th anniversary of the attack. honoring the past, inspiring the future, and remembering the sacrifices made by those who served here on december 7, 1941. to those who are watching our ceremony through our online broadcast, we also extend a

sincere aloha. we thank you and the pacific war words for providing today's vintage aircraft. and we thank today's many volunteers who made the ceremony possible. tugboats from joint base pearl harbor will be in the who bore -- in the harbor conducting a water tribute. as a reminder, all pearl harbor military and civilian survivors , as well as i world war ii veterans, are invited to participate in the walk of honor tribute. guests may watch near the main entrance of the pier as service members from all branchs salute these men and women. please enjoy patriotic songs from the united states pacific fleet band as you depart today. we hope you enjoy the rest of your day and you will always remember pearl harbor. thank you. [applause] ♪

[band playing] ♪

you are looking at film shot 75 years ago on the morning of december 7, 1941 when warplanes from aircraft carriers attacked the island of hawaii targeting the u.s. specifically at pearl harbor. almost 2400 americans were killed in 1200 wounded. the surprise attacks led to the u.s. entry into world war ii. what the next two hours on "american history tv come, -- american history tv," will be joined by authors.